87 husbands killed by their wives over 5 years:NCRB data reveals disturbing trend in MP; lovers, contract killings, poison recur

A disturbing pattern has emerged in Madhya Pradesh over the past five years. According to official data, dozens of husbands have been murdered by their wives, often with the help of lovers or hired associates. Police investigations reveal planned killings, brutal methods and shocking confessions. Experts warn that changing social behaviour, substance abuse and personality disorders are playing a major role behind these crimes. Recent case from Betul On December 16, 2025, the body of Raju Uike was found in Ghugri village under Bhainsdehi police station in Betul district. At first, it appeared to be a normal murder case. During investigation, police found that Raju’s wife Poonam had killed him. She carried out the murder with the help of her lover and two other associates. After killing her husband, Poonam made a video call to her lover. She showed him the body and said the job was done. Similar incident in Burhanpur A similar case came to light in April this year in Burhanpur. There, a wife killed her husband with the help of her lover and his associates. These two cases are part of a much larger trend in the state. According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), more than 87 husbands were murdered in Madhya Pradesh between 2020 and 2024. In every case, the wife was directly involved. Most murders were carried out with help from lovers, friends or contract killers. Across India, 785 husbands were murdered by their wives in five states — Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh. Different methods used for murder Police analysis shows that wives used many methods to kill their husbands. Some poisoned them. Others strangled them. In several cases, professional contract killers were hired. In 40% of major cases, poison was used. In 25%, strangulation was the method. In 15%, the murders were contract killings. Case 1: Bhopal retired BHEL officer murder George Kurian, a retired BHEL officer, was murdered in Bhopal. His wife Bitty played a key role. She gave a contract worth Rs 10 lakhs to her friend and her friend’s husband. Before the murder, she put eye drops in George’s eyes and asked him to keep them closed for 10 minutes. As soon as he did so, her lover Sanjay Pathak and another man entered the room and strangled him. At first, Bitty told police that her husband slipped in the bathroom. Later, she confessed. George was 65 years old. Bitty was 32. The motive was greed for his house, pension and property. Bitty later claimed that George controlled her movements and stopped her from talking to others, while he himself stayed in touch with other women. Case 2: Brutal murder near ITI College, Burhanpur On April 13, the body of a young man named Rahul was found near ITI College in Burhanpur. He had gone to the market with his wife a day earlier and then went missing. Police found that his wife planned the murder with her lover Yuvraj and two associates. On the way back, she dropped her slipper near the college to make Rahul stop his bike. When he stopped, the attackers struck. His wife hit Rahul on the head with a beer bottle and pushed him into a ditch. He was stabbed 36 times in the neck, back, stomach and head. After the murder, she video-called Yuvraj and said, “The deed is done,” while showing Rahul’s blood-soaked body. Case 3: Murder in Shujalpur village On October 7, 2025, in Bhaisayagarha village of Shujalpur, Rekhabai murdered her husband Anokhilal Ahirwar. She acted with her lover Bunty Ahirwar. Anokhilal was first strangled while sleeping.Then his throat was slit with a knife. The body was later thrown outside the house. Their son was sleeping nearby and witnessed the incident but was too scared to speak at first. Police found that Rekhabai and Bunty had been in a relationship for two years. Anokhilal had warned his wife to stay away from Bunty. This warning led to the murder plan. Case 4: Karwa Chauth murder in Narmadapuram In Rohna village of Narmadapuram, Sevantibai killed her husband Raju Dhurve on October 7, 2025, just before Karwa Chauth. She slit his throat with a sickle while he was asleep. She dragged the body and threw it into a nearby field. She then cleaned the blood from the house. Five children were sleeping in the house at the time. In the morning, she took the children to her maternal home. Police later arrested her. Sevantibai said her husband was addicted to alcohol and often beat her and the children. Case 5: Confession in village panchayat, Guna Kailash Banjara died in Banjari Barri village of Guna. His wife Sampo Bai refused a post-mortem and cremated the body quickly. Relatives noticed marks on his neck and raised suspicion. A village panchayat was called. There, Sampo Bai confessed that she killed her husband with her lover Pradeep Bhargava. She said Kailash was first given sleeping pills and then strangled with a rope. Police arrested both accused. Year-wise data from MP The NCRB data shows a steady rise in such murders: Men’s harassment complaints rising Bhai Welfare Society in Bhopal has been working on male harassment cases since 2013. The organisation receives thousands of complaints through its digital helpline. Cases include workplace harassment, disputes in short-term marriages, separation in long marriages and severe violence. Nitin Talwar from the organisation says many men realise serious problems on the wedding night itself, such as hidden pregnancies or concealed mental illness. He says society offers little support and often mocks such victims. Experts warn of social media influence Psychiatrist Dr J.P. Agarwal says such crimes are increasing due to changing behaviour patterns. He says people now easily learn methods of harming others through social media. Crimes like killing and hiding bodies show psychopathic or anti-social personality traits. Such people lack remorse or empathy. Substance abuse makes these tendencies more dangerous. According to Dr Agarwal, psychological assessments can help identify anti-social or Cluster-B personality disorders early.